The Wilmingtonian., 1887-01-15
Legalized Primaries.

AtShhZtu
Wednesday last Senator McWborter intro
duced at Dover the most popular enabling
measure and the most urgently needed ONT
that our present political status requires.
The provisions of the bill he has brought
before the legislature will allow the choice
of the people to prevail. The intent of voting
by ballot will be nor possible of demonstra.
tion. Under its provisions, had such existed
during our last political campaign, and il
duly carr ed out, e. r. Cochran..E O., would
have been our Governor-elect, and the Hon.
Charles B. Lore, United States Senator, by
apositive majority.
Following, is Senator McWhorter's bill,
as summarized by EOery Epening:-
Section one provides for the appointment
of one presiding officer and two judges al
each voting precinct in every election to bt
hereafter held by any political party, organ
ization or association, for tue purpose OF
nominating or selecting candidates By balloi
to be voted for at any subsequent election
or for the purpo ose of selecting delegates OF
representatives to any political convention
thereafter to be held for the purpose of Sc
lecting candidates.
Section prescri bes an iron clad oath to
be taken by the eli ction judges aforesaid, to
perform their every duty truly, faithruily
and impartially and to give information to
the attorney. general of any partiality, uu-
fairness or corruption that may come under
their observation.
Section 8 empowers the judges, respective
ly to administer said oath to each other.
Section provides for the choice of clerks
and prescribes the oath they are to take.
Section makes the violation of such oaths
misdemeanor, with premium of 800 to
the iuformer, and penalty OF 5000 to the
culprit, one-half to the State and the Other
half to the informer.
Section specifics the style and precau-
tious to be observed regarding ballot-boxes.
Section Z restricts the right to vote at NOM
inatiun elections to those who will be legally
qualified to vote for the candidates to be
chosen at such election.
Section regulates tile disposition of chal-
lenged votes, providing that any one so chal-
lenged may be required to swear that he
be qualified to vote at the election following
the nomination.
Section makes the challenged voter who
swears falsely legally guilty of perjury.
Section 10 makes fraud, deceit, repeating,
or false pretence on the part of any one vo-
ting or offering to vote at such nomination
election liable to a Gue of 5000 and one years
imprisonment and disirauchisement, one
half the fine to go to the informer.
Section II makes bribery or attempt at
bribery, in any shape, of an election officer
punishable by a fine OF $500 and disfran.
chisement for five years.
Section 12 makes the wilful reception of
improper votes punishable by 500 fine and
liability to further indictment and punish
ment for purju'y.
Section 13 applies the same penalties and
five years d squalifcation for cfice to any
election judge guilty of falsiiyng or attempt
ing to falsify returns.
The remaining sections prescribe the mode
of counting and certifying to the votes cast
aud prohibits disturbances and dis lrrier with
in the neighbuihood OF the polls The count
lug is to be done publicly, under the il spec
tion of ''such electors as shall think proper
to be present.